Orange Bureau Confidential: Valley View hearing set for early October

Sunday

Sep 25, 2011 at 2:00 AM

When Orange County lawmakers voted last year to study whether to keep or sell the county nursing home, employees and supporters of the home packed the Legislature chambers to praise the facility and blast what many saw as an inevitable step toward privatization.

When Orange County lawmakers voted last year to study whether to keep or sell the county nursing home, employees and supporters of the home packed the Legislature chambers to praise the facility and blast what many saw as an inevitable step toward privatization.

Now, the resulting report on the Valley View Center for Nursing Care and Rehabilitation is in, and debate over its future will resume with a two-part hearing the Legislature has set for Oct. 4 to gather input on the findings.

The report, released Aug. 19 and available online on the county website (www.co.orange.ny.us), recommended that the county either sell the home to a private operator or take drastic steps to reduce its costs, which are outpacing the state's reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients — as everybody already knew.

The hearing will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the Orange County Emergency Services Center, 22 Wells Farm Road in Goshen. Written comments may be submitted to the Legislature clerk until Oct. 7.

Chris McKenna

A citizens' group fighting for Orange County to renovate and preserve its 41-year-old Government Center — rather than tear it down and replace it — ratcheted up its campaign last week with road signs declaring "$ave our tax dollar$," "Just fix it!" and "Demolition? No!"

The group, known as Taxpayers of Orange County, has been active since County Executive Ed Diana proposed a $114.4 million complex last year. They make their case for preservation on both financial and cultural grounds, since the building is a landmark of Modernist architecture.

The fate of the Government Center took center stage this month when Diana closed it because of storm-related water and mold and relocated its roughly 300 workers.

He wants to speed a Legislature decision on whether to renovate or build anew.

Chris McKenna

Drenched in pink, Warwick residents, municipalities and merchants united this weekend for a common cause: to boost breast cancer awareness.

The second annual "Think Pink" fundraiser began with the kickoff event at the Warwick Valley varsity football game on Friday.

Downtown was drenched in pink, with ribbons on trees and windows of businesses slathered with pink paint.

She began the event in memory of a friend who lost her battle to breast cancer two years ago.

The fundraiser benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure, as well as the Warwick Valley Council of PTA's scholarship in Memory of Jodi Denmead, awarded annually to a Warwick Valley senior who embodies Denmead's commitment to volunteering and community.

Merchants will donate a portion of their sales to those funds. Schools, nonprofits, police and fire agencies, along with the Town and Village of Warwick, are also pitching in.

Alyssa Sunkin

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.